Saint Mary's recruit gets release to play for father at New Mexico

MORAGA -- Cullen Neal, a key piece in the Saint Mary's College 2013 basketball recruiting class, has received his release so he can play for his father, the new head coach at New Mexico.

Craig Neal became head coach for the Lobos when Steve Alford left to take the job at UCLA.

It was an understandable move by Cullen Neal, but a tough recruiting setback for the Gaels and coach Randy Bennett, who expected Neal to challenge for the point guard spot vacated by graduating senior Matthew Dellavedova.

"How do you measure the importance of having the opportunity to play for your dad?" Bennett said. "It just played out the way it did."

Cullen told CBSSports everything changed once his dad was hired as the Lobos' head coach. Still, he said, "Making the call to coach Bennett was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do.

"I built a great relationship with him and their entire staff and I just wish them the best. Coach Bennett completely understood."

The 6-foot-4 Neal averaged 26.5 points per game last season at Eldorado High in Albuquerque. His father was an assistant to Alford, then was promoted to head coach.

Neal was rated the nation's No. 150 overall prospect by Rivals.com and the No. 27 point guard by ESPN.

"He'll be a good player for them," Bennett said. "I wanted him as a kid, too. He's a heck of a kid."

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The Gaels still have a strong recruiting class, featuring Calvin Hermanson, a 6-5 forward from Lake Oswego, Ore., who is rated No. 144 overall by Rivals, and Dane Pineau, 6-9 power forward from Melbourne, Australia.